I just want to stay busy and keep fighting top guys- Kenny Florian
There’s no such thing as a perfect plan.
This seems to be the case to Kenny Florian’s plan to meet lightweight champion B.J. Penn. Looks like that potential title shot may not materialize since Penn is expected to fight Georges St. Pierre. St. Pierre retained his welterweight belt at UFC 87 Seek and Destroy last August 9.
KenFlo agreed to meet Roger Huerta also at UFC 87 for the possibility of being pitted against Penn, but that could not be arranged until next year. Florian defeated Huerta via unanimous decision at UFC 87 event and is now enjoying a five-win streak. It’s a comfortable position to be in, but it’s so like Florian to want some action right away.
“For me, I don’t want to wait around,” Florian said in his recent radio guesting. “I want to stay busy, and I want to fight, so I’m hoping I can get another fight in between, and if B.J. sticks around at 155, then I can fight him later. We’ll see what happens. I just want to stay busy and keep fighting top guys.”
Apparently, Florian always has a Plan B. It keeps him prepared should Plan A go awry. And his Plan B is to “stay busy” against other MMA fighters.
“I definitely want to get a fight in by December before January. I want to stay busy. I think I’m able to perform at a higher level — at a better level — if I stay busy (fighting) every three or four months. I let the UFC know that, and I’ll be calling them in the next couple weeks to find out what’s going on.”
Florian said he could see action at a year-end card slated for December 27. Said event could feature Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Frank Mir and St. Pierre vs. Penn.
“I’d love to get on that Vegas card in December,” he said. “That’d be sick. The timing would be perfect.”
And despite his blood-letting combat with Huerta at UFC 87, Florian said he’s ready to train and face another cage warrior.
“I feel pretty good,” he said. “The shin is a little sore from kicking, and my right hand is a little bruised, but I’m feeling good. I’ve got a little cut on my nose, but expect you that to happen when you got a big nose. It gets in the way sometimes. Ninety percent of the shots wouldn’t hit me if I didn’t have this nose.”
Florian also talked about his recent fight with Huerta. What made “El Matador” yield to him?
Florian said Huerta sustained his first loss in the UFC because of his incomplete game plan.
“He definitely cleaned up his technique, but it didn’t seem like he had a really structured game plan,” Florian said. “Obviously, it was to pressure me. I don’t how specific that game plan was. … In the first round, I didn’t really get onto his rhythm. He really had no rhythm; he’s kind of wild and jumping at me with kicks and stuff. It was weird, and it took my some time to adjust. … He was a tough opponent, but I don’t think he had the most structured game plan out there. I think that hurt him.”
As for the rewards of his recent victory, Florian has this to say: “Girls everywhere. It’s ridiculous. People after me. Money falling out of my pockets,” Florian joked. “Nah, I wish it was like that. … Definitely I think this was another step toward getting more fans by beating Roger. Obviously, he has a huge following. But who knows? Maybe I hurt my status beating Roger. So far, I’ve had just had good emails. I’m sure some female (fans’) emails will come into my inbox saying how they hate me for beating Roger.”
Tags: Kenny Florian, Roger Huerta, UFC, UFC 87 Seek and destroy